With the support of our readers, Mail Sport is on a quest to discover the greatest player of all time from each of the 20 Premier League clubs.
Today, we turn our attention to the iconic figures of Crystal Palace, featuring record goalscorer Peter Simpson, the legendary Team of the Eighties, and the talented Wilfried Zaha.
Once you decide who you believe is the greatest of all time, it’s time to cast your vote…
Though Crystal Palace has not clinched a major trophy, they have consistently produced standout players, many emerging from the vibrant footballing scene in south London.
The club’s first true star arrived from afar; Scottish forward Peter Simpson joined Palace in 1929 and went on to net 165 goals over six remarkable years—a record that remains unbroken to this day.
Crystal Palace’s current side are headed up by star midfielder Eberechi Eze (right) who went to the Euros with England
Now with Galatasaray, Wilfried Zaha is one of Crystal Palace’s standout players in recent times, boasting 90 goals and 76 assists from 458 appearances
Peter Simpson joined Palace in 1929 and in six prolific years scored 165 goals for the club – a record that still stands 89 years after his departure
Affectionately known as The Eagles, Johnny “Budgie” Byrne was one of the club’s shining stars, known for his endless chatter. He rose from the youth ranks to earn his first cap for England in 1961, while the team was still in the Third Division.
Byrne eventually moved to West Ham, sharing the pitch with World Cup legends Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, and Martin Peters, before returning to Selhurst Park for a second stint that saw him surpass the century mark in goals for the club.
At the other end, goalkeeper John Jackson featured in 222 consecutive matches during the 1960s and played a crucial role in the squad that achieved promotion to the top flight for the first time in 1968.
His solid presence earned him the nickname “Stonewall,” and he starred in Palace’s most memorable victory: a 5-0 thrashing of Manchester United in late 1972.
Jackson’s nearly 400 appearances pale in comparison to the incredible tally of centre-back and captain Jim Cannon, who set a club record with 660 games played between 1973 and 1988.
Cannon was part of the squad when manager Terry Venables constructed an exciting team known as The Team of the Eighties after earning promotion in 1979 in front of a record crowd of 51,000 at Selhurst Park.
Skilful winger Vince Hilaire debuted at the age of 17 in 1977 and became one of the first prominent black players, overcoming significant racism along the way.
He recalls, “Three-quarters of the away crowd would chant monkey noises,” but he was cherished by Palace supporters, who voted him Player of the Year during their famous promotion season.
Johnny “Budgie” Byrne – nicknamed for his non-stop chatter – came through the youth ranks to win his first full England cap in 1961
John Jackson played 222 consecutive games in the 1960s and guided the team to their first ever promotion to the top-flight in 1968
Vince Hilaire debuted at 17 in 1977 and became one of the first black players to make it big, overcoming widespread racism along the way
Hilaire was a skilful winger and a fan favourite with supporters voting him Player of the Year in their famous promotion season.
Joining him was left-back Kenny Sansom, who went on to become one of the finest defenders in England’s history with Arsenal and the national team.
Striker Dave Swindlehurst sealed Palace’s promotion with a vital goal against Burnley, recalling, “The explosion of noise still sends shivers down my spine.”
Since then, Palace has enjoyed memorable moments, reaching the FA Cup Final in 1990 and finishing third in the top tier the following season.
The attacking duo of Ian Wright and Mark Bright gained national acclaim before Wright’s move to Arsenal.
Wright’s journey from a black youth in south London to a Palace signing from Greenwich Borough has inspired countless future players.
His dynamic scoring, including two goals at Wembley as Palace drew 3-3 with Manchester United before losing the replay, embodied the excitement that Premier League football aimed to deliver globally.
His partner Bright continues to support the club as a respected ambassador, frequently seen next to chairman Steve Parrish.
Gareth Southgate and Chris Coleman, both of whom would go on to become international managers, forged strong ties at Selhurst Park in the 1990s as Palace vied for Premier League survival, reaching several cup semi-finals.
Ian Wright (left) and Mark Bright (centre) formed an acclaimed strike partnership for the Eagles
In 2002, striker Andy Johnson arrived and, after a slow start in his first ten games, went on to score an impressive 85 goals in 160 appearances.
His status as a fan favorite was solidified with a hat-trick in a 5-0 win over rival Brighton, and in the 2004-05 season, he netted over 20 goals despite the team being relegated, earning him recognition from England under Sven Goran Eriksson.
Currently, Wilfried Zaha, a local talent, has been the standout player during Crystal Palace’s ongoing streak of 11 consecutive years in the Premier League. He temporarily departed Palace after securing their promotion in 2013, only to return after a less than satisfying experience at Manchester United.
“Wilf” was the undeniable crown jewel of Palace until his transfer to Galatasaray in 2023, with an impressive tally of 90 goals and 76 assists from 458 matches, often in a team that played defensively to endure.
Zaha’s innate talent and dazzling dribbling skills endeared him to the fans and were pivotal in Palace’s journey to the 2016 FA Cup final, where they were again bested by United.
Andy Johnson would score 85 goals in 160 appearances for Crystal Palace and earned recognition from England boss Sven Goran Eriksson
Zaha’s natural skill and ability to dribble past opponents made him a natural crowd favourite
Zaha was the undisputed jewel in a side that invariably set out in a defensive structure to frustrate their opponents
Poll
Who is Crystal Palace’s greatest ever player?
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Ian Wright
0 votes
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Mark Bright
0 votes
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Gareth Southgate
0 votes
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Chris Coleman
0 votes
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Andy Johnson
0 votes
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Wilfried Zaha
1 votes
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Other
0 votes
Poll
Who is Crystal Palace’s greatest ever player?
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Peter Simpson
0 votes
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Johnny Byrne
0 votes
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John Jackson
0 votes
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Jim Cannon
0 votes
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Vince Hilaire
0 votes
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Kenny Sansom
0 votes
-
Dave Swindlehurst
0 votes
To make your selection for the greatest player in Crystal Palace history, click the voting button or email greatest@dailymail.co.uk for any candidates not listed.
We will announce the results for the greatest player of all time across all 20 Premier League clubs before the beginning of the 2024-25 season.
